Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection: endemic strains and cladograms from immunodeficient patients in China.

Abstract Background The epidemiology and strain features of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients in China is not well described. Objectives To determine KSHV seroprevalence and characterize strains of KSHV in transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients in China. Methods Patients were screened for KSHV infection using a KSHV open reading frame (ORF) 65 recombinant protein-dependent ELISA. The 172 bp fragment of KSHV ORF26 was amplified by nested PCR and bilaterally sequenced from KSHV-seropositive peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ORF26 gene diversity and cladograms were analyzed and compared to predominant international strains. Results KSHV seroprevalence in renal transplant recipients [41% (44/107)] and HIV-infected patients [39% (29/74)] were significantly higher than in healthy people [13% (16/122)] ( P P  > 0.05). ORF26 DNA was detected in 47% (23/49) of KSHV-seropositive organ transplant recipients; 28% (8/29) of KSHV-seropositive HIV-infected patients; and 19% (3/16) of KSHV-seropositive healthy people. Organ transplant recipients had a significantly higher rate of KSHV DNAemia than healthy people ( P Conclusions The seroprevalence of KSHV was elevated in renal transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients in China, and KSHV DNAemia was more common in these patients and liver transplant recipients. KSHV strains from Zhejiang Province belonged to the A3 subtype.